“I love helping people find and make the best use of technology that helps them to grow their business, and waste less time.”
Frieda Maher of SalesPod had 15 years of experience working in global businesses, with hundreds or thousands of people in their sales teams. These global businesses had already invested hundreds of thousands of dollars over decades and were now trying to squeeze out 1% improvements.
Frieda realised the same techniques and processes for managing customer-facing technology were just as relevant to a smaller organisation as a very large one. Moreover, if they were starting that journey, sales and productivity improvements of 30%, 50%, or even 100% were possible. The frustrating thing is that so much of the information is provided by someone looking to sell something – usually expensive software or services! Very little independent advice is available to businesses making choices about their technology.
Excited by this revelation, she decided to share these tools with the small- and medium-sized business sectors to give them independent information and confidence to make the right investments in both time and money when choosing software. And at the same time, to create large improvements in how they work with customers.
“I love helping people find and make the best use of technology that helps them to grow their business, and waste less time. So many businesses have a collection of systems that are holding them back!”
Now, at SalesPod, Frieda works with the leaders of small and medium businesses to find and implement the right customer facing technology like CRM systems. Frieda does this with consulting services and my CRM Game Plan course.
“I have been so fortunate to have amazing women supporting me from the very start of my business.”
Frieda has been a member of the HerBusiness Network since 2015 and says “I have bought from, sold to, collaborated with, referred and been referred by members! I love HerBusiness!”. Frieda has supported her business through attending retreats and masterminds with HerBusiness, as well as being an active member of the community. Frieda shares, “I have been so fortunate to have amazing women supporting me from the very start of my career, and now in my business.”
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
Suzi! Because you keep it real, and you are always an inspiration, not to do more, but to create our own versions of winning.
Why did you start your business and what gave you the idea?
I had been working with big businesses for ever, and then did some work for a smaller business that had never optimised anything. It blew my mind, the amount of difference getting the right technology in can make when you haven’t optimised a bajillion times like big corporates have. I want to be that difference maker!
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
The flexibility, not only for my time and energy, but strategic flexibility – knowing that I get to decide what sort of business I have.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- You will be doing it very tough if you don’t have clarity on who your customer is.
- Which leads into the importance of having clarity on how your product/service serves your customer.
- Plus one general bit of advice – comparison is the thief of joy (and particularly if you compare your messing beginning to someone else’s evolved business).
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
Funnily enough it was something PJ asked me years ago: do you really want a business? Or do you just want a better job? Wanting a business (even a micro one) is a whole different thing, and fabulous (if that is really what you want).
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
Sales and marketing. Nothing happens if you can’t get revenue.
Learn more about Frieda and SalesPod.
